Electric conductor



(No Model.)

T. EGLESTON.

ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR. No. 401,936. Patented Apr. 23, 1889.

Wrzeawea; 172W)? H. PETERS. PhaloL'nhogmphgr. wahin mm Dc UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS EGLESTON, OF NElY YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE PLUME & AT- lVOOl) MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF \VATERBURY, CONNEUJICUT.

ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 401,936, dated April 23, 1889.

Application filed June 16, 1885. Serial lie-168,906. (N0 specimens.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, THOMAS EGLEsToN, of the city and county of New York, in the State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Conductors, oi which the following is a specification.

Hy invention, although applicable to the conductors for any purposes, is particularly useful in insulating-00nductors for electriclighting purposes.

The invention consists in a wire or conductor having applied directly to its surface an insulating-coverin g of fibrous material impregnated with a liquid fireproofing material, consisting of a hydrated silicate of an alkali or alkaline earth and a binding material, the impregnated fibrous material forming of itself the insulating-covering for the wire or conductor. lalso preferably apply to the insulated wire or conductor an outer coating or covering of lead or metallic alloy, which. protects the insulating-covering from the action of the weather, and is by it protected from the electric current.

The accompanying drawing represents a piece of wire having my improved insulatingcovering and a watc1'proofing-coveri n g applied thereto.

A designates the electric wire, of copper or other metal, and B designates the insulating-covering which is applied thereto. The insulating material mayconsist of cotton, paper, or other fibrous material. If of cotton, it may be woven, braided, or wound on the wire, and if of paper it maybe wound. on or laid on in pulp.

The fireproofing material is applied in aliquid form to the covering B. The fireproofing material will consist of a hydrated silicate of the alkalies or alkaline earths and a binding material which may consist of linseed-oil, either raw or boiled; but I do not wish to be restricted to the use of this particular oil, as any oil not acid can be used. In lieu of employing an oil, I can use the silicates of soda or potash or water glass.

For the fireproofing material, I may use porcelain. clay, powdered serpentine, powdered talc, or any desiccated. clay in a pow dered form, or the hydrated silicates of alnmina or magnesia.

The fireprooting material is applied to the insulating material either before or after the application of the latter to the wire. The insulating material of a fibrous nature is in all cases thoroughly impregnated with the liquid fireproofing material.

The fire-proofing preserves the insulating material in case of the wire becoming overheated by the electric current.

Outside the insulating material I may apply a waterproofing material, C. This will preferably consist of lead or an alloy of metal commonly known as fusible metal. The wire, covered with the insulating and fireproofing material, may be passedt-hrough a bath of the molten metal, and the metal may be chilled to a solid condition. by a current or currents of air directed upon it as the wire leaves the bath. The metal may then be smoothed oflf and rendered uniform in thickness by means of rollers or dies.

1 do not here claim the process or method. 0t applying the metal or alloy as above described, as that process or method forms the subject of United States Letters Patent No. 286,796, granted to me October 16, 1883.

In certain cases Japan Varnish may be used for waterproofing the insulating-covering.

1 am aware that it has been proposed to insulate electric wires by a covering of yarn saturated with a compound of ground glass mixed or incorporated with oil. In such case the glass forms merely a mechanical mixture with the oil, and the glass can form no chemical combination. with. any binding material that will not rot the fibrous material. I am also aware that it has been proposed to cover wires with yarn saturated with a solution of glass or silicate of soda; but after a short exposure the silicate decomposes and leaves caustic soda to attack and rot the yarn. I am also aware that it has been proposed to cover electric wires with a fabric saturated with carbonate of lime and oil; but the heat to which electric conductors are subjected will drive off carbonic acid and leave caustic lime to rot the fibrous material. I do not claim anything above referred to as old as included in my invention, and my invention differs from those old. wires, in that l use a hydrated silicate of an alkali or alkaline earth. It is advantageous to use a hydrated silicate, because Water is present only in combination and not as an independent element. It is also cheaper than anhydrous silicate, and can be more easily ground or pulverized to a fine 2. A wire or conductor having applied directly to its surface an insulating-covering of fibrous material impregnated with a liquid fireproofing material consisting of a hydrated silicate of an alkali or alkaline earth and a binding material, the impregnated fibrous material forming of itself the insulating-covering for the Wire or conductor, and

also having applied to it an external Water-' proofing material as. a protector to the insulating material, substantially as herein described.

TI-IOS. EGLESTON.

W itnesses:

FREDK'. HAYNES, MATTHEW PoLLooK. 

